M.
M-roof, Arch. A roof formed by the junction of two common roofs, with a valley between them.
Macabre. (See Dance of Death.)
Macaronic Verses. A burlesque of Latin, chequered with Italian, Tuscan, and plebeian words, described by the author:—
“Ars ista poetica nuncupatur Ars Macaronica, a Macaronibus derivata; qui Macarones sunt quoddam pulmentum, farina, caseo, butyro compaginatum, grossum, rude et rusticanum. Ideo Macaronica nil nisi grossedinem, ruditatem, et Vocabulazzos debet in se continere.”
Macchia, It. (lit. a spot or stain). “The blocking out of the masses of light and shade.” (See Eastlake’s Materials, &c., ii. 355.)
Mace (Fr. masse or massue). A military club or staff, generally of iron with a wooden handle, useful for breaking defensive armour. The mace was generally worn at the saddle-bow; and was subsequently perforated to form a pistol, and finally superseded by the pistol. In the Middle Ages the mace became an emblem of office; and is so still—usually surmounted by a crown. (See Clava, Club.)
Macellarius, R. (macellum, a market). A keeper of a shop for the sale of fruit and cooked provisions. His shop was called taverna macellaria.
Macellum, Gr. and R. (μάκελλον). A covered market in which were sold all kinds of provisions, such as fish, poultry, and game; it was distinct from the open market called Forum (q.v.).
Fig. 438. Maceria.
Maceria, R. (1) A rough wall formed of materials of every description, and having no facing. (2) An enclosed place unroofed. (Fig. 438.)
Machæra, Gr. and R. (μάχαιρα). A sword with only one edge, made rather for cutting than thrusting.
Machærium, Gr. and R. (μαχαίριον). Dimin. of machæra, a knife employed chiefly by fishermen.
Machærophorus, Gr. and R. (μαχαιρο-φόρος). Literally, armed with the hunting-knife, the machærium; an epithet of the so called barbarous nations, such as the Egyptians, Persians, Medes, Thracians, and Gauls.
Machicolated, Arch. Furnished with machicolations.
Machicolations (Fr. machicoulis), Arch. Openings or grooves made under the parapet of a fortified place, through which stones, pitch, boiling water, or hot sand were thrown down.
Macrochera, Gr. (μακρό-χειρ, long-armed). A tunic with long sleeves, called by the Romans Chiridota.
Macrocolum, Macrocollum, R. Paper of the largest size, that is to say, in sheets formed of a number of pieces of parchment or papyrus glued together.
Macula, R. The mesh of a net; in the plural maculæ.
Madder. The root of “rubia tinctoria” (Fr. garance), from which a number of valuable pigments are made, which are transparent and permanent, working equally well in oil and in water-colours. They vary from the lightest and most delicate rose to the deepest purple, and are known as rose madder, pink madder, madder-carmine, purple madder, brown madder, intense madder purple, and orange madder lake.
Madonna, It. The Virgin Mary. (See Joys.)
Mæander, Gr. (Μαίανδρος). An ornamental design so called from the numerous windings it described, like the river Mæander. Its proper name is the Greek Fret. (Figs. 334 to 336.)
Mælium. (See Melium.)
Mæmacteria, Gr. (μαιμακτήρια). Festivals held at Athens in honour of the boisterous or stormy Zeus (Μαιμάκτης), with the object of obtaining a mild winter.
Mænad, Gr. (μαινάς). Literally, a frenzied woman, and thence a bacchante. (See Baccha.)
Mænhir. (See Menhir.)
Mænia Columna, R. A column situated in the Roman forum, near which certain magistrates (triumviri criminales) judged criminals, slaves, and vagrants.
Mæniana, Mænianæ Scholæ, R. Celebrated schools of Gaul founded by Augustus at Autun (Augustodunum or Bibracte), so called because the buildings were furnished with balconies (mæniana). (See Mænianum.)
Mænianum, R. A structure supported on corbels; a balcony projecting from the wall of a house; in a theatre or amphitheatre, one range of seats comprised between two landing-places (præcinctiones). Originally a balcony erected round the Roman forum, B.C. 318, to give accommodation to the spectators of gladiatorial contests. Afterwards balconies in general were so called.
Maes, Celt. A Welsh word for a field of battle, common in topographical nomenclature.
Mafil. (See Mahfil.)
Mafors or Mavors (Gr. μαφώριον) was a short veil covering the head and neck and flowing down on the shoulders, such as nuns wear in imitation of the Virgin Mary.
Magadis, Gr. (μάγαδις). A musical instrument invented by the Lydians; it was a kind of harp, which changed its form and was afterwards called Sambuca (q.v.). (See Lyra.)
Maghreb Pottery. (See Gargoulette.)
Magi. The adoration of the Magi (commemorated on Christmas Day) is the subject of some of the earliest specimens of Christian art. A fresco in the catacomb of St. Agnes, representing the Magi before Herod, is attributed to the 2nd century, and the mosaics of St. Maria Maggiore at Rome, in which the same subject occurs, are of the 5th century.
Magnase Black. A colour which dries rapidly when mixed with oil, and is of intense body.
Mahfil, Arab. A raised seat in a mosque, for the imaum mocri who reads the Koran, and for the imaum khatib, who recites prayer, preaches, and acts as the minister of the services generally.
Mahl-stick. A stick with a pad at the end, upon which the painter rests the wrist of his right arm while working.
Mahogany. Wood of the Swietenia mahogoni of Jamaica and Honduras. Satin-wood, or green mahogany, is the Chloroxyllon; mottled, or African mahogany, is the Khaya; Indian mahogany is the Cedrela toona.
Mahoitres, O. E. The name of a singular fashion of the 15th century—“of prankyd gownes, and shoulders up set, moss and flocks sewed within”—of padding up the shoulder to give a broad appearance to the chest. (See Figs. 51, 355, and 469.)
Mail (from the Fr. maille, the meshes of a net). Applied to chain or ringed armour. “Rich mayles that ronke (strong) were and round.”
Mainefaire, O. E. The covering for a horse’s mane. It was made of overlapping plates, like a lobster’s tail; and was fastened to the testière by buttons, and round the animal’s neck by straps. (Meyrick.)
Maintenance, Cap of, Her. (See Chapeau.)
Fig. 439. Majolica Plate (Urbino Ware).
Maiolica or Majolica. The Italian name for the glazed earthenware introduced by Moorish potters from the island of Majorca. Originally these terms were only applied to “lustre wares,” but from the 16th century they were generally applied to the glazed earthenware of Italy. A coarser lead-glazed lustred ware was known as mezza-majolica. The distinguishing characteristics of the Majolica ware are “coarseness of ware, intricacy of pattern, and occasionally prismatic glaze.” It is also named Faience, from the botega at Faenza, and, when decorated with subjects after designs of Raphael, “Raffaelle-ware.” Fayence, terraglia, as distinct from Porcelain, is formed of potter’s clay (hence its English name Pottery) mixed with marl and sand, and is soft or hard according to the nature of the composition, and the degree of heat under which it is fired in the kiln. English earthenware is soft, while stone-ware, Queen’s ware, &c., are hard. Soft wares are either unglazed, or lustrous, or glazed, or enamelled. The Italian lustrous ware is properly, and the glazed ware improperly, but generally called Majolica.
Majesty (It. Maesta), Chr. A conventional representation of the Saviour in glory, on a throne, encompassed by a nimbus, and surrounded by cherubim, and the four evangelistic symbols, and the letters Α and Ω. “The only existing document relating to Cimabue shows that he was employed in 1301 on a mosaic ‘Majesty’ in the tribune of the Duomo at Pisa.” (Eastlake.)
Mala Pioba. Irish (mala, a bag). The bagpipe.
Malachite. A native carbonate of copper, forming a beautiful and permanent green pigment, used for oils and water-colours. Incrusted upon other materials it is used for articles of ornament. Blue malachite is pure carbonate of copper; green malachite is green carbonate of copper; emerald or royal malachite is dioptase of copper, a still rarer green and the best of all, which is a mixture of copper and silica; false or pseudo-malachite is phosphate of copper, soft and silky, and of a rich velvet green marred by black spots or lines, and not so rich as the three kinds of true malachite.
Malchus, R. An old term for a confessional having only one stool for penitents; it signified that which has only one ear, from the fact that Malchus, Caïaphas’ servant, was deprived of his right ear by Peter.
Malleability. The property of extension under the hammer (malleus). Gold is the most malleable of metals. The art of rendering glass malleable was discovered by an architect in the reign of Tiberius. Buried treasures of glass vessels have been found to be malleable when first disinterred, but to harden quickly on exposure to the air.
Malleus, R. (1) A hammer. (2) Med. The Maule (Gothic Miölner), Thor’s hammer; a military weapon.
Malluvia, Malluvium. R. A wash-hand basin.
Fig. 440. Malus of an Amphitheatre.
Malus, R. (malus, an apple-tree). (1) The mast of a vessel. (2) In theatres and amphitheatres (Fig. 440) mali were the poles over which the velarium was stretched.
Malveisin, Med. (Fr. malvoisin, a disagreeable neighbour). A military engine for projecting stones or arrows.
Mama-quilla, Peruv. One of the divisions of the temple of the Sun, Inti (q.v.); so called because it was dedicated to the moon, Mama-quilla.
Mamillare, R. (mamilla, the breast). (1) A broad band made of soft leather, a kind of small stays, used by the Roman ladies to support the breasts. (2) In Mediæval Latin, circular plates on the surcoat with rings from which two chains depended, one of which was attached to the sword and the other to the sheath. The fashion was introduced under Edward I., and continued until Henry V.
Mancop Oly, Dutch. Poppy oil, “a very white oil used by the painters in the Netherlands, who execute delicate works requiring lively colours, such as the vases of flowers of De Ghein, &c.” (Eastlake.)
Mandorla, Chr. (lit. an almond). (See Aureole and Vesica Piscis.)
Mandra, Chr. (lit. a fold). A favourite appellation for monastic establishments in the East.
Manducus, R. (mando, to chew). A comic masked character, distinguished by his ugliness and voracity (whence his name). (See Persona.)
Mandyas, Chr. In the Greek Church, an outer garment worn by monks. It is a long cloak, reaching almost to the feet, and fastened at the throat. It is originally a Persian dress, and is frequently mentioned as worn by emperors and kings.
Manefaire, O. E. A covering of armour for a horse’s mane.
Manes, R. The shades of the dead. (See Lemures.)
Manganese Brown. A rich semi-opaque brown pigment, permanent and drying well. (See Cappagh.)
Manger, Chr. The boards of the manger in which the Infant Saviour was laid, are said to be preserved in the crypt of the church of St. Maria Maggiore at Rome. They are called the culla, and are the object of a solemn procession on Christmas Eve.
Mangonell, Med. A military machine for hurling stones; the spelling is frequently varied:—
Manica, R. (manus, a hand). (1) An armlet, or piece of armour which protected the arm of the gladiator. (2) A leather glove worn by barbarous nations. In the plural, manicæ denotes (1) manacles; (2) a grappling-iron called Harpaga (q.v.).
Fig. 441. Manicore.
Manicora, Manicore, Chr. In Christian iconography, the manicora is a hybrid animal with a human head, and a globular body ending in a serpent. It is a symbol of the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. (Fig. 441.)
Maniple, Chr. A short stole held in the left hand, originally used as a napkin by the officiating priest. Afterwards it was worn pendent from the wrist, and richly decorated. (See Fanon.) The word is derived from—
Manipulus, R. (lit. a handful). (1) A maniple, the earliest ensign of the Roman legion; it consisted of a handful of hay attached to the end of a pole. (2) A body of infantry in a legion, consisting of about 180 to 200 men.
Mansard Roof, Arch, (so called from Mansard, the French architect, who introduced it), or Curb Roof (from the French courber, to bend). A roof with two sets of rafters, of which the upper part is, as it were, broken off, and not so steep as the lower. According to Mesanges, Mansard took the idea of his roof from a frame composed by Segallo, and Michael Angelo employed it in the construction of the dome of St. Peter’s. The houses in Lower Brittany were covered with these roofs in the end of the 15th century.
Manse, O. E. The parsonage-house.
Mansio, R. (maneo, to remain). Stations placed at intervals along the high roads, to serve as halting-places for the troops on a march. (See Mutatio.)
Mantapa, Hind. A porch to a temple.
Mantel-piece, Arch. (formerly mantil). A cloak or covering; hence the slab which covers a part of the fireplace; the canopy over a shrine (Latin mandualis).
Mantelet or Mantlet. A shed used for protecting soldiers from missile weapons. (See Pluteus.)
Mantica, R. (manus, the hand). A double wallet serving as a portmanteau for riders or pedestrians.
Mantle. A flowing robe worn over the armour, as shown in the costume of the knights in the ivory mirror-case. (Fig. 463.)
Mantling or Lambrequin. A small mantle, of some rich materials, attached to the helmet, and worn hanging down, and ending in tassels. (See Fig. 177.) It is usually represented, in Heraldry, with jagged ends, to represent the cuts it would be exposed to in actual battle.
Manuale, R. (manus, the hand). A wooden case for a book.
Manuballista, R. A hand-ballista. (See Arcuballista.)
Manubrium, R. (i. e. what is borne in the hand). A general term for a handle of any kind. (See Fig. 377.)
Manus Ferrea, R. Literally, a hand of iron; an iron hook which served as a grappling-iron, differing from the harpaga, as it was launched at the end of a chain, while the harpaga was fixed on a long beam (asser).
Marble. The finest for statuary, from Carrara, is of a pure white; that from Paros is of a waxy cream colour; others coloured with metallic oxides are available for ornamental purposes. Many cements have been produced as “artificial marble.” (See Scagliola.)
Marble Silk had a weft of several colours so woven as to make the whole web look like marble stained with a variety of tints. On the 6th of November, 1551, “the old qwyne of Schottes rod thrught London; then cam the lord tresorer with a C. great horsse and ther cotes of marbull.” Its use prevailed for three centuries.
Marbling “is an art which consists in the production of certain patterns and effects by means of colours so prepared as to float on a mucilaginous liquid. While so floating they form into patterns, which are taken off on to a sheet of paper (for book-covers), or to the smoothly cut edges of a book, by dipping.” (Woolnough, The Whole Art of Marbling, 1881.)
Marcus, R. A blacksmith’s hammer; a sledge-hammer. (See Malleus.)
Mardelles, Margelles, or Marges, Celt. Excavations met with in several parts of Europe, supposed to be Celtic.
Mark, O. E. An ancient coin, value 13s. 4d.; formerly the equivalent of 30 silver pennies.
Marmouset, Arch. Fr. (monkey). A grotesque figure introduced into architectural decoration in the 13th century.
Marouflage, Fr. (maroufler, to line). A method of house-painting in France, upon a lining of prepared canvas fixed upon the surface to be decorated.
Fig. 442. Marquess’s coronet.
Marquess, Marquis, Her. The second order of the British peerage, in rank next to that of duke, was introduced into England in 1387 by Richard II. The coronet, apparently contemporary in its present form with that of the dukes, has its golden circlet heightened with four strawberry-leaves and as many pearls arranged alternately.
Fig. 443. Shaft ornamented with Marquetry.
Marquetry. Inlaid-work of ornamental woods and stones of various colours put together and mixed with metals. The art has existed from the earliest ages; but no nation has brought it to a higher degree of perfection than the Italians of the 15th century. The Florentines especially have produced work of this kind which is unapproached; the Medici chapel at Florence may be particularly instanced. Figs. 443 and 444 represent specimens of antique work. The Venetian marquetry, derived from Persia and India, is a fine inlay of ivory, metal, and woods, stained to vary the colour. This work is in geometric patterns only. In France, in the early marquetry designs, picturesque landscapes, broken architecture, and figures are represented. Colours are occasionally stained on the wood. Ivory and ebony are the favourite materials. In England, it is an art imported from Holland in the reign of William and Mary. The older designs on Dutch marquetry represent tulips and other flowers, foliage, birds, &c., all in gay colours, generally the self colours of the wood used. Sometimes the eyes and other salient points are in ivory and mother-of-pearl. (Compare Boule, Certosina Work, Emblemata, Musivum Opus, Reisner-work, &c.)
Fig. 444. Marquetry.
Fig. 445. Marra.
Marra, R. A kind of hoe with indented teeth, used for tearing up weeds. (Fig. 445.)
Mars Brown. A brown pigment.
Mars (Reds, &c.). Calcined earths of which the brightness of the redness is regulated by the duration of the roasting.
Fig. 446. Teapot of Marseilles faience.
Marseilles Faience. This ancient city has at all times been celebrated in the ceramic arts. Fig. 446 gives a representative specimen of modern polychrome work, decorated with flowers easily recognized by the disposition of their long stalks. These flowers are, in other specimens, accompanied by marine landscapes. Other polychrome services are called from their designs “services aux insectes.”
Marsupium, R. (μαρσύπιον). A purse for containing money; it was made of leather and shaped like a pear, being confined at the top with a string. (Hence the adjective marsupial applied to the kangaroo, &c.)
Martel de Fer, Med. A weapon which had at one end a pick, and at the other a hammer, axe-blade, half-moon, mace-head, or other fanciful termination. (Meyrick.)
Fig. 447. Early Heraldic Martlet.
Fig. 448. Heraldic Martlet.
Martlet, Her. Bird, usually represented without feet. (Figs. 447, 448.)
Martyrium, Chr. An altar erected over the tomb of a martyr.
Fig. 449. Il Marzocco, the bronze Lion now in the Bargello at Florence. By Donatello (about A. D. 1420).
Marzocco, It. The Lion of Florence. The heraldic emblem of the city. (Fig. 449.)
Fig. 450. Etruscan Mask in terra-cotta.
Mascaron, Arch. Fr. A mask; the face of a man or animal employed as an ornamentation for decorating the key-stones of arches or vaults, or the stones of an arch, &c. (Fig. 450.)
Mascle, Her. The central lozenge of a diapered surface; it is drawn with right angles.
Maser or Mazer, O. E. A bowl of maple-wood. The name is applied to similar bowls or goblets of other woods.
are mentioned by Scott in “The Lord of the Isles.” They were richly ornamented, frequently with legends on the rim, such as
and the rim was often covered with silver or gold.
Massicot. The name of an ancient pigment of a dull orange colour.
Mastaba, Mastabê, Egyp. An outer chapel attached to Egyptian burial-places; it was generally a small quadrangular building, the door of which faced the East.
Master Arch, O. E. The central or widest arch of a bridge.
Mastic. A resin used for varnish. (Dissolve one part of mastic resin in two of oil of turpentine.) (See Varnish.) In France, the term is applied to a cement used to fill up joints in masonry; in joinery, to a composition of wax, resin, and pounded brick, applied to fill up knots and chinks in the wood. Putty is also so called.
Mastigophorus, Gr. and R. (μαστιγο-φόρος). A slavedriver, and thence an officer who fulfilled the same functions as our policemen. The mastigophori were so named because they carried a whip (μάστιγα φέρειν), in order to put down any crowding or tumult; it was also part of their duty to repress any infringement of the regulations at the public games.
Match-lock. A gun which was exploded by means of a match, before the introduction of the flint and steel. (See Fire-lock.)
Materiatio, R. (materia, materials). The timber-work of a roof, consisting of two principal rafters (canterii), a tie-beam (tignum), a ridgepiece (calcimen), beams (trabes), struts (capreoli), purlines (templa), and common rafters (asseres).
Materis, R. A Celtic javelin with a broad head.
Matralia, R. (i. e. pertaining to a mother). The festival of Matuta (the Ino of the Greeks), which was held at Rome every year on the third of the ides of June (11th of June). Prayers were offered by the Roman matrons on behalf of their nephews, they being afraid to pray for their own children, since those of Matuta had turned out so unfortunately.
Matronalia, R. A festival of the Roman matrons held on the calends of March, at which matrons offered sacrifices to Mars and Juno Lucina.
Mattucashlash. An ancient Scotch weapon, sometimes called the armpit dagger, being worn on the arm ready to be used on coming to close quarters.
Maule. (See Malleus.)
Maunde, O. E. A basket.
Fig. 451. Mausoleum of Hadrian at Rome. In its original state.
Mausoleum, R. The tomb of Mausolus, king of Caria, at Halicarnassus, ranked among the seven wonders of the world. The name was afterwards applied to tombs of an imposing size and splendour, such as the tomb of Augustus in the Field of Mars, and that of Hadrian, on the banks of the Tiber, now known as Fort St. Angelo. A representation of it, in its original state, is shown in Fig. 451.
Mauve is the colour of a peach blossom; obtained as a dye from aniline found in gas tar.
Maze, Chr. Labyrinthine figures in the pavements of churches and on the turf of greens. To trace the former kneeling was a species of penance.
Mazmorra, Sp. A tank lined with cement, sunk in the ground and used for storing grain. (See Murray’s Handbook, Spain, p. 361, Granada, &c.)
Mazonum, Gr. (μαζο-νομεῖον; μᾶζα, barley-bread). A wooden platter for domestic use, and thence a salver of bronze or gold on which perfumes were burnt in the religious processions of Bacchus.
Fig. 452. Old Mechlin Lace, 17th century.
Fig. 453. Mechlin Lace, 18th century.
Mechlin Lace is fine, transparent, and effective. It is made in one piece on the pillow; its distinguishing feature is the flat thread which forms the flowers, and gives to the lace the character of embroidery. In 1699—when Charles II.’s prohibition to the introduction of Flanders lace was removed—Mechlin lace became the fashion in England, and continued so during the succeeding century. In the 17th century the Beguinage nuns were celebrated for their lace-making, and they supported their house by their work. Previous to 1665 the name of Mechlin was given to all pillow lace, and much of it was made like our modern insertion. The engraving shows a specimen of old Mechlin lace formerly in great favour as head-dresses and other trimmings.
Medallion. (1) A medal of a larger size than the ordinary coinage. (2) In Architecture, a circular or oval tablet on the face of a building.
Mediæval. (See Middle Ages.)
Medimnus, Gr. (μέδιμνος). The principal Greek measure of capacity, holding as much as six Roman modii. It was especially used for measuring corn.
Meditrinalia, R. (medeor, to remedy). Roman festivals in honour of Meditrina, the goddess of healing, celebrated on the 11th of October, at which new wine was tasted, it being looked upon by the Romans as a preservative of health.
Medium. The liquid in which pigments are ground. The best are linseed oil and nut oil.
Fig. 454. Medusa Head on a shield.
Medusa Head was frequently used as an ornament for the centre of a shield. (Cf. Gorgoneia.)
Megalartia, Gr. (μεγαλάρτια). Festivals held at Delos in honour of Ceres, who was called Megalartos (Μεγάλαρτος) from her having bestowed bread on mankind.
Megalesian (games), R. (Ludi megalenses). Festivals celebrated annually on the 4th of April in honour of Cybelê, who was called the Great (Μεγαλεῖα), in which the people went in procession to the Field of Mars to witness scenic spectacles. The magistrates attended these spectacles in a purple toga, or “toga prætexta;” hence the expression “Purpura Megalensis.”
Megylp. A vehicle used by some oil-painters, condemned as tending to destroy the permanency of the picture.
Melides, Gr. Nymphs of fruit-trees. (Cf. Hamadryades.)
Melina, R. A pouch made out of the skin of a marten (or a badger, meles).
Melium, R. A collar for sporting-dogs, studded with nails and iron spikes (clavulis, capitatis).
Mell. (See Malleus.)
Melotte, O. E. A garment worn by monks during laborious occupation. (Halliwell.)
Membrana, R. (membrum, skin). Parchment for writing on was introduced as a substitute for the Egyptian papyrus by Eumenes II., king of Pergamus. It was usually written over on one side, and the back was stained with saffron. The writings were frequently erased, and the paper or parchment used again. It was then called a palimpsest. All the sheets used for one work were joined together into a long scroll, which was folded round a staff, and then called volumen; usually there were ornamental balls or bosses, projecting from the ends of the staff, called umbilici or cornua. The ends of the roll were carefully cut and blackened; they were called geminæ frontes. The roll itself was kept in a parchment case, which was stained purple or yellow. (See also Liber.)
Membranula, R. (dimin. of membrana). A small strip of parchment on which the title or contents of a volume were inscribed in minium.
Menat, Egyp. An Egyptian amulet worn on a necklace. The menat evidently formed some symbol, the meaning of which has hitherto not been discovered.
Menehis or Minihis, Fr. This term, derived from the Celtic menech-ti (house of a monk), or manach-li (free spot of earth), was formerly used in Brittany to denote a place of asylum which had been consecrated in any way.
Menhir, Celt. A Celtic monument consisting of a huge stone fixed upright in the ground. Menhirs are found associated with dolmens, tumuli, and circles of stones. (Consult Bertrand, Archéologie Celtique et Gauloise, p. 84.)
Menis, Meniscus, Gr. and R. (μηνίσκος; μήνη, the moon). A crescent-shaped piece of metal which was placed on statues of the gods to hinder birds from settling on them. The same term was used to denote an ornament, likewise in the shape of a crescent, placed by the Romans at the beginning of their books; hence the expression a menide, from the beginning. (Cf. Luna.)
Mensa, R. (Gr. τράπεζα). A board, tablet, or table; mensa escaria, or mensa simply, a dining-table; mensa prima, secunda, the first, second course of a meal; mensa tripes, a table with three feet, in contradistinction to monopodium, a table with a single leg; mensa vinaria, a drinking-table (see Delphica); mensa sacra, an altar-table; mensa vasaria, a table for holding vessels; mensa publica, a public bank; hence mensarii, bankers.
Mensao, Celt. A Celtic monument more usually called Menhir (q.v.).
Mensole, Arch. A term denoting the key-stone of an arch.
Menzil, Orient. Houses in the East for the reception of travellers, in places where there are neither caravanserais nor khans.
Mereack, Hind. A sort of thick black varnish employed by the Khmers to coat over statues made of any soft stone, which are exposed to the changes of the weather. This varnish was, in many instances, itself covered with gold leaf.
Merkins, O. E. A name given to ringlets of false hair, much worn by ladies temp. Charles I.
Merlons, Arch. The Cops or raised parts of a battlement. Figures of warriors or animals are sometimes carved on the tops. (See Battlement.)
Fig. 455. Mermaid and Pillars of Hercules. Arms of the Colonna family.
Mermaid. An ancient device of the Colonna family was the mermaid between the pillars of Hercules, with the motto Contemnit tuta procellas.
Mesaulæ (μέσ-αυλα). (1) The narrow passage or corridor which, in a Greek house, connected the andron with the gynæceum. (2) The door in this passage.
Mese (the middle, sc. χορδή). The central note of the seven-stringed lyre. The Greeks had no names to distinguish musical notes. They were expressed by the names of the strings of the lyre. Thus, Nete, d; Paranete, c; Paramese, b flat; and Mese, a, in the treble or upper tetrachord; and Lichanos, g; Parhypate, f; and Hypate, e, in the base or lower tetrachord.
Mesjid, Arab. A small mosque. These exist in great numbers. The Sultan Mohamet II. alone consecrated 170 mesjids in Constantinople.
Messe, A.S. The Mass.
Messle-house or Meselle-house, O. E. (from the obsolete word measle, a leper). A hospital or lazar-house.